The article considers the role and place of the national state in the world in the period of formation of a global information society. Analyzed are various aspects of the weakening of the national state in a number of spheres of a public life. At the same time, attention is focused on its remaining enormous contribution to solution of the global problems faced by the mankind, such as disarmament, preventing a new world war, ecology, demography, energy, raw materials, providing mankind with the necessary food resources, fighting terrorism, coping with world economic crises. Special attention is paid to the relationship of the national state, civil society and transnational structures, strengthening influence of the latter on the solution of important global problems and analysis of their capacity to assume the functions of the national state in the modern world, touching upon issues of ethnic segmentation of society, change of the system of state management in the new historical conditions. Recognizing the importance of strengthening the coordination functions of the government from the beginning of the era of the global information society, the author argues against its setting above other basic functions of the state. The author concludes that the process of transformation of the nation state in the conditions of globalization is contradictory. Along with the obvious signs of weakening, the nation–state currently has significant potential to qualify for the role of one of the main actors of the global information society.